Why after all the years he was in the USA he did not apply for citizenship? He marries an American woman, starts a family and gives the appearance of settling in. Yet, he maintains an Egyptian passport and citizenship. Why?
I can't speak for this movie character as it still appears ambiguous as to whether he actually is involved in terrorist activity or not, by the end of the film.
But I can speak about green card status and applying for citizenship in general. For many legal immigrants who hold green card status ("permanent resident alien" status), because this is (so far anyway, might change) a permanent permission to remain and settle, many just don't bother pursuing full citizenship, or put it off thinking they'll get around to it -- it's really as simple as that.
Also of note -- it could be that the character in this film has not yet held his green card for the required number of years. There's a wait-time.
Back in my day, I think it was seven years of being a permanent resident alien before you were permitted to apply for citizenship. I think it's now something like five years.
But his son looked to be about five -- perhaps he was only just coming up on his time when he could apply for citizenship.
The previous poster is correct too in mentioning what a hassle it is -- I mean, it's do-able and the requirements are not unjustly horrendous requirements, but it's just a bit of a pain in the neck.
There's an exam to pass, on top of the fact that it's actually quite expensive to go through the process of applying for citizenship, as it is also for the resident alien application (green card). They are both long, multi-step processes and charge hefty fees more than once in the process. There are several steps along the way to file papers on, and each process costs a few hundred dollars, amounting in the end to quite a lot of money.
I'm not complaining -- it's a huge thing to ask a country to allow you to be there forever, and the requirements should be involved ones, and rightly so. I'm just saying that both the green card process and the citizenship process are complicated, multi-step, and have very, very expensive fees attached. And that once someone has attained green card status, going through all that again is something you have to gear up to.
Although, the character in this film does make great money, and the expense that would have been a bit painful to the pocket for someone else, would have been a flea-bite to his budget...
The USA also does not really approve of "dual citizenship" even though technically it's not illegal to hold such a status and lots of people do.
But I once asked about getting dual status (I'm a green card holder) and was told that my own country is fine with it but the US doesn't like it. While it's not against any law to hold dual status, it is actually illegal to re-enter (after overseas vacation, etc) on your "other" passport, showing them your other passport, if you also hold a US passport, while your "other" country doesn't care which passport you show them, or both for that matter.
Anyway, short answer, because on a green card you've got everything you need except the right to vote, lots of permanent resident aliens never get around to or never bother pursuing full citizenship. It doesn't mean they are any less committed to their life in the US, it just means that in many cases they have to save for the expense, study for the exam, plus there is also the fact that for several years they are not yet permitted to do so.
Just for the record, I'm female...
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civ-e
11 years ago
despite the reasons you stated for why one might not pursue citizenship status after having green card, i find it highly improbable that someone like this guy did not eventually do it. with a u.s. passport he can still visit egypt without any difficulty, but even then it sounds like he only has an uncle back there that calls him once in a while - that cannot be enough to make him not get u.s. citizenship. i forgot what his exact job position was in the movie but it sounded like highly professional and technical (even involving government projects) so it would really be preferrable and even necessary in some cases that he be a citizen.
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